Eight South Lake Tahoe contractors caught in statewide sting

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If the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office decides to prosecute, eight South Lake Tahoe contractors could face criminal charges after being caught in a statewide contracting sting, according to a Contractors State Licensing Board news release.

The eight from South Lake Tahoe were part of 75 contractors caught in the stings.

The arrests came on the backs of allegations of contractors seeking bids for miscellaneous projects through “illegal advertising,” “requests of excessive down payments” and failure to comply with a “Stop Order,” the release stated.

The contracting penalties carry fines, $500 for illegal advertising to $10,000 for violating a “Stop Order.” The penalties also come with possible jail time, up to six months for each, according to the release.

Furthermore, the release stated some of the contractors were registered sex offenders with criminal records that included burglary, rape, drug possession and other convictions.

The press release did not name the contractors who may have committed the infractions.

The release stated those arrested in South Lake Tahoe were seen as a suspects “who recently attended an outreach event about proper contracting and CSLB sting operations.”

CSLB’s Statewide Investigative Fraud Team conducted the stings with the help of local agencies.

“SWIFT investigators posed as homeowners seeking bids for home improvements such as painting, electrical, plumbing, landscaping, flooring, drywall, fencing, concrete, and tree removal work,” the release stated. “Of the 75 individuals arrested, 72 now may face misdemeanor charges for contracting without a license.”

El Dorado District Attorney’s Office was named in the release as an assisting agency in the sting that was conducted Oct. 9. El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to comments Friday.